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Author: Steve_Miller, Contributing Editor
| With the piece now turned over, I apply the fiberglass to this side. Give particular attention to applying the fiberglass around the keys. I like to cut the fiberglass mat into very tiny strands and place this around the keys. It is easier to work the air out from around the keys this way resulting in a more precise fitting mother mold. |
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| Here you can see the finished fiberglass with the keys in place. You can also see that I have drilled the mother mold for screws that will be used to hold the mold halves together when casting. I do this before I seperate the halfs to insure proper placement when I put the two halfs back together. Now I seperate the pieces and cut the rubber where the dividing line was created and take the original out. Clean the mold and apply a release agent.
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| Now the mold is ready to cast. To cast this piece I chose to use Resin with a granite dust. This is basically what is used in the housing industry for granite countertops. To pour this, you mix the components by weight . The recommended mixing ratio for this product is 30-35% resin to matrix by weight. This is fine for pouring the head or the base because they were a open top mold which the mix could be poured directly into the spaces. As for the hands, the resin content had to be bumped up a little bit for ease of pouring. Where the straws were initially in the ends of the fingers left air holes. I poured the mix into the mold, when the mix started coming out of the ends of the fingers with consistency I plugged the holes with a little bit of clay. I then took a muscle massager ( one of those vibrating thingies) and held it against the side of the mold for about 30 seconds. This helps to work any trapped air to the surface (eliminating air pockets). I let the mix setup until the mold is cool to the touch. Once cool I demold.
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| I sand the piece smooth with steel wool. Once smooth I apply a patina. The patina I use is a resin dye which I paint it on and wipe it off with a damp cloth. This virtually coats the piece. I then use a scotch brite pad to burnish this back to the color and effect I like. |
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